Images of Sweden

An exploration of Sweden's evolving identity, from welfare state and neutrality to crime, NATO, and global perceptions.

Sweden was perceived for a long time as a society characterized by equality, social cohesion and an ambitious welfare policy. With its independent foreign policy, it stood outside the great power conflicts. In recent years, gang crime and shootings have received a lot of attention in the media, a right-wing populist party has become part of the government and we have ended 200 years of non-alignment by becoming members of NATO. How has it changed the image of our country and ourselves?

In this anthology, a number of writers discuss the image of Sweden past and present, both within and outside the country's borders. Svante Nordin writes about Sweden and Luther, Elisabeth Braw about the importance of Swedes living abroad, Mikael Wiberg about the technological wonder, Fraser Nelson about gang crime and Sofia Bard about Sweden's soft power. Per Enerud, Anna von Bayern and Nathan Shachar address the image of Sweden in Russia, Germany and Spain and Richard Swartz criticizes the decline of the Swedish language.